Self-drive Vietnam 4×4 tour on the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail – 13 days

On the morning of the very first day, wake up and escape from the noisy and bustling capital of Hanoi. Roll your set of wheels on a small road, head north to the Red River dike and experience the beauty, people, and the culture of the country. Along the way is a good mix of the local houses, farming lands, and rice paddy fields. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Viet Tri or Doan Hung Town. Both places are in Phu Tho Province.

Set out to the tiny, lakeside commune of Vu Linh where has some amazing palm-thatched wooden homestays above the water and crop fields. Since Vu Linh is near the eastern shores of Thac Ba Lake – one of the largest artificial lakes in Vietnam, you will get a chance to join lots of lake-related activities like go boating or try your hand at local agriculture. Stay overnight at one of the Vu Linh homestays to break the journey between Hanoi and Phu Yen.

Greet a new day with a drive along the scenic trail to Thac Ba Lake, which is considered as “Ha Long on the Mountain”. The mystery of the lake makes it look sparkling and jaw-dropping with the system of beautiful caves hidden deep in the limestone mountains. Cross all the way through the roadside ethnic villages and green tea plantation.  Then, have lunch in Yen Bai Town.

Going on to the untouched, serene Phu Yen. The upland district is like a watercolor painting with its halcyon valleys nestled in the mighty mountains and green forests. Moreover, this masterpiece of nature is often hugged by white clouds, bringing a dreamy look. Besides, the tribal villages of the region also own a unique cultural value whose own lifestyle, cuisine, and spirit are very original. Savor a hearty dinner and sleep at the same hotel.

Feed yourself with a tasty morning meal before a climb up to a forested region. Mosey along for sightseeing then drop down to a mountainous tea-growing region. Have lunch before making it to the marvelous valley floor sank in the sea of rice fields. It surrounds are the sleepy villages of Black Thai. Our final destination is Moc Chau – the biggest and dreamiest plateau of the mountainous region in North Vietnam with multi-colored flowers, majestic waterfalls, caves, and green tea hills. However, it is best known for many visions of huge gardens of apricot and plum trees alongside a wide range of flowers, vast emerald grass fields, tremendous tea plantations, and long herds of milk cows. Check-in at a hotel in Moc Chau and get ready for another 180km drive the next day.

Bid a farewell to the northwest region, we all start off the engine and drive south. Its own one-and-only charms make it a fascinating destination for any travelers seeking a bit of adventure. Clear all the scenic routes and we will stop at the heart of Pu Luong Nature Reserve. As a hidden gem of the country and a land rich in flora and fauna, Pu Luong is such a great place for nature lovers with the bestowal of the untouched beauty of the rainforest, limestone panoramas, eye-pleasing views of rice terraces, and majestic sceneries.

Spend some times trekking to the top of Pu Luong Peak for soaking up the natural grandeur of the land. Pay a visit to some popular attractions in Pu Luong such as Thai Hieu Waterfall, a craft workshop, and an ethnic Thai village where lies the homestay that we will spend the night at. End the day with full of exhilaration.

Leaving the endearing and friendly homestay, roll our set of wheels on the mountain paths of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. Has always been the stuff of legends, it has a seemingly unending number of trails and backwater paths whose starting point is near Hoi An and ran over 1600 km down the length of Vietnam, crossing into Laos at some points and ending near Sai Gon.

Go across rice fields, tea plantations, and ethnic minority villages circled in mountains and valleys before arriving in the untapped Tan Ky in the afternoon. With the various cultural identities, diversified biology, and spectacular natural settings, Tan Ky offers many one-of-a-kind tourist attractions such as the pristine Hong Son Waterfall, Thung Khien caves, the legacy thousand-year-old tree to name a few.  More than that, the indigenous cuisine is more than special to appease your appetite. Spend the night at a hotel there.

The distance to travel today is the second-longest one on the whole self-drive trip. Recharge your battery with a full breakfast before we all move to Phong Nha – Ke Bang, the biggest and also most astonishing National Park and caves in Vietnam in particular and in Indochina in general. It’s also known as one of the 2 largest limestone regions in the world and one of the most spectacular wilderness sites in Southeast Asia.

Containing the oldest karst mountains in Asia, formed approximately 400 million years ago and riddled with hundreds of caves systems covering beautiful underground rivers, Phong Nha – Ke Bang is considered as a paradise for researchers and explorers of caves and grottoes. It’s heaven on earth not only for them but also for adventurers and travelers. Enjoy a delectable supper and spend the night at the hotel.

Keep striking south through foothills where stands an important chapter of Vietnam’s history – the former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The foothills were heavily affected by Agent Orange back in Vietnam War. However, there are still many pieces of evidence of bombing on the mountainsides and we will go see remnants of the original Trail from time to time. Running on the famous Western Ho Chi Minh Trail until we get to Khe Sanh (former US Marine Base) for dinner and overnight at a hotel. Situated in a valley of red land at an elevation of 400m, surrounding Khe Sanh is rolling hills which saw several fiercest fighting during the American War.

Today, we will have to clear the longest distance on the whole tour. Begin the day with a drive over a high mountain pass. Have lunch and get a short rest. Subsequently, go along the breathtaking coastal line to Hai Van Pass which cuts through Bach Ma Rang and has been a challenge for any drivers until the end of Hai Van Tunnel. Halt at the top of the Pass for a while to get the best aerial view over Lang Co Beach. Snap some shots to feed your Instagram if you like. Move onto the next stop at Da Nang city to tour in the Marble Mountains, a cluster of five marbles and limestone hills in the south of the city. These mountains are named after the 5 elements of nature: wood, fire, metal, water, and earth. Get out of Da Nang to reach Hoi An town in the late afternoon for a stopover at the hotel.

Sleep a bit more as we don’t have any long distance to drive today. It’s promising to be the most relaxing time of the tour when you have an entire day to discover the ancient beauty of Hoi An where is always tourists’ go-to destination in Vietnam. Zip-around the peaceful and pretty town, we will lead you to wonderful hotspots and incredible cuisine. As the intersection between the Western and Eastern, the town bears a unique and specific culture with the combination of the essence of lots of countries in cuisine and architecture. The untamed beaches and simplistically beautiful surrounding countryside embellish Hoi An’s appeal and that makes the town a firm travelers’ favorite. Yet, there is more to uncover in Hoi An by night when the town is lit by thousands of old-fashioned lanterns, making the town twinkle and an atmospheric spot.

Say goodbye to lovely Hoi An, we get back north on the National road no.1. Drive up to Ba Na Hills for a visit to the notorious Golden Bridge in Da Nang then Hai Van and finally Hue – the ancient capital of the country, historical and cultural heritage of the world. Upon arrival in Hue in the afternoon, we will check-in a hotel then going boating on the Perfume River when the night falls. Drifting on the surface glistened by the moonlight, you can feel deeply the tranquil, conservative city of Hue with the right concentration of nightlife. Walk around in the pedestrian streets, you will get a chance to meet up with plenty of friendly people and taste delicious yet affordable food. Return to the hotel for some sleep to get back your energy after a tired but funny day.

Flee away from Hue, continue heading north on the small trails along the coast to meet the former DMZ. Roll into the famous Hien Luong Bridge, as known as the Peace Bridge, which shows the pain of Vietnam during the division time from 1954 to 1875. That’s why Vietnamese people recognize it as a special national historic site and a span of reunification. Back on the small trail along the picturesque coast to the city of Ha Tinh. The thing is it does not really have much to offer but it’s worth a visit, like any city off the tourist trails, to see the real Vietnam for a day. Get a full rest after a long day of experience at a hotel.

Sticking on the National Road no.1 to find Tam Coc in deserted Ninh Binh. Meaning 3 caves, Tam Coc is a zone stretching between rice paddies, bathed by the Ngo Dong River pierced through the mountains. Known for the idyllic, tranquil but equally beautiful sceneries, Tam Coc favored by the names of “Ha Long Bay on land” is powerful enough to captivate visitors immediately right when they set their foot on. If we arrive in the place soon in the afternoon, embark on a boat to eye-witness the magnificent caves and rice fields. On the cool Vietnamese rowboat, you will be taking through the mind-boggling mountains. Spend the night at a hotel. Be fully prepared for the last day of the excursion.

Take time to enjoy the morning meal with coffee since you will take the last shortest drive. Get back on the road, keep heading northwest. On the last day, we will pass grey limestone mountains, green paddy fields, and placid villages en route. Weave through a few fishing villages, we end up at Cuc Phuong National Park, one of the largest nature reserves and the first National Park of Vietnam, home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna. Quietly lies in the foothills of the northern Annamite Range, the park comprises lush valleys and verdant karst mountains. Visiting the park is a perfect chance for a closer look at rare apes, turtles, birds, and other kinds, the 1000-year-old Parashorea Chinensis for example. Of course, the prehistoric caves from the Stone Age cannot be missed. Finally, return to Hanoi on the National Road no.1 before it’s dark.